Head-to-head comparison
Minnesota State University Moorhead vs Southwest Minnesota State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Moorhead, MN
Minnesota State University Moorhead
- Net price / year
- $17,997
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,527
- Payback
- 33.2 yrs
Option B Marshall, MN
Southwest Minnesota State University
- Net price / year
- $15,291
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,342
- Payback
- 20.5 yrs
Southwest Minnesota State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $61,164 in 20.5 years versus 33.2 years at Minnesota State University Moorhead, on median earnings of $51,342 vs $50,527 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Minnesota State University Moorhead | Southwest Minnesota State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,997 | $15,291 |
| Total net cost | $71,988 | $61,164 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,527 | $51,342 |
| Median debt | $20,000 | $20,500 |
| Payback | 33.2 yrs | 20.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$28,648 | -$1,524 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Minnesota State University Moorhead or Southwest Minnesota State University?
Southwest Minnesota State University, at $15,291 a year after aid versus $17,997 — a gap of $2,706 a year, or $10,824 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Minnesota State University Moorhead or Southwest Minnesota State University graduates earn more?
Southwest Minnesota State University graduates report a median $51,342 ten years after entry, $815 more than the $50,527 at Minnesota State University Moorhead. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Minnesota State University Moorhead or Southwest Minnesota State University?
Minnesota State University Moorhead: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $20,500 at Southwest Minnesota State University, a difference of $500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Minnesota State University Moorhead, against 45% at Southwest Minnesota State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.